Ex-Washington cop accused of double murder, abducting baby shoots himself

WEST RICHLAND, Wash. (KPTV) – A 39-year-old man accused of killing two women and and abducting a 1-year-old boy shot himself after a chase with police on I-5 near Eugene on Tuesday, according to authorities.

A spokesman for the Oregon State Police at a news conference Tuesday evening said Elias Huizar led troopers on a chase and exchanged gunfire with them before crashing into another car. Once troopers approached Huizar’s car he took his own life.

Police said 1-year-old Roman Santos was unhurt and was in the custody of Oregon State Police.

An AMBER Alert was issued late Monday night after Huizar allegedly killed two women – his ex-wife and girlfriend – then kidnapped Roman Santos.

Elias Huizar killed his ex-wife outside William Wiley Elementary School in West Richland on Monday around 3:30 p.m. before fleeing the scene with Roman, according to authorities.

West Richland is in Benton County about 35 miles north of the Oregon state line.

When police searched Huizar’s home on South Highlands Boulevard later that day, they found his dead teenage girlfriend.

He was believed to be driving a 2009 silver Toyota with the license plate: CBZ-745.

Early on Tuesday morning around 1 a.m., Elias was possibly spotted in North Portland outside a Plaid Pantry. But by the time police arrived he was gone.

Police said the clerk at the store recognized Elias from the AMBER Alert and social media and called 911.

The AMBER Alert was extended into Oregon as authorities believed Huizar intended to flee to Mexico with the child.

According to court documents, Huizar had entered a not guilty plea on charges of child rape in February. Elias was dating a 17-year-old who’s 16-year-old friend accused Elias of raping her.

Huizar allegedly sexually assaulted the unconscious teen after the victim and Huizar’s teenage girlfriend had been drinking. Police arrested the 39-year-old after his girlfriend allegedly caught him assaulting her friend, according to court documents.

According to the documents, Elias met his girlfriend when he was working as a school resource officer at her middle school. They later reconnected when she was 15 and began a sexual relationship. He got her pregnant and she had Roman when she was 16. She was not named due to being a minor.

The former officer posted $200,000 bail after his arrest, and the rape case was pending at the time of his wife’s and girlfriend’s murders on Monday.

Huizar’s and Amber Rodriguez divorced in 2020 and she filed a restraining order against him on behalf of herself and their two sons, ages five and eight. According to the court documents, domestic violence and sexual assault were the reasons for the restraining order.

Rodriguez also filed for a custody change involving her two young sons with Huizar last week, according to court documents.

Huizar was a Yakima police officer from June 2013 to February 2022.

Police consider him armed and dangerous and believe he will commit more violent crimes.

Anyone who sees him or has information should call 911 immediately.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.